Brighton, England: Hometown Tour Guide

This month’s Hometown Tour Guide is Laura from The Slant. Here’s what she has to say about her hometown….

Brighton, England

What is the name of your hometown and where is it?

Brighton, East Sussex (South Coast of England)

Is your hometown famous for? What, if anything?

Brighton is most famous for being the UK’s ‘Gay Capital’ – and, therefore, one of the most inclusive, vibrant and fun-loving cities in the UK. It flies the rainbow flag all year round, and there are plenty of bars, clubs and spaces where LGBT+ is not just encouraged but celebrated! It’s also famous for its pebble beach, it’s pier, and the Brighton Pavilion – King George IV’s seaside retreat

The top 5 attractions are:-

1. The Pier: a classic British pier – filled with fairground rides, arcade games, doughnuts and fish and chips
2. The beach: not the place to build a sandcastle, but miles of pebble beach – a perfect retreat on summer days
3. The North Laines: Brighton’s ‘quirky’ shopping district, full of independent shops, restaurants and cafes
4. The Brighton Pavilion: unexpected history in the centre of Brighton – beautiful from the inside and outside
5. The South Downs: countryside ride on the doorstep

Are there any local sports teams? Where do they play?

Brighton & Hove Albion – playing at the AMEX stadium in Falmer, Brighton

My 3 favourite restaurants are:-

1. Estia – BEST Greek food outside of Greece! A really little, intimate restaurant but a great atmosphere and selection of tasty Greek-Cypriot dishes, all for a really good prices. Great destination for groups or more intimate dinner dates.
2. Donatello – it’s not the best Italian food you’ll ever have, but it’s the biggest portion you’ll ever have. An absolutely enormous restaurant, ideal for large groups, serving up a huge menu of tasty foods in an authentically Italian setting
3. Kensington’s Cafe – a balcony cafe right in the centre of Brighton’s North Laines. Serves up the best breakfast in Brighton, in a colourful and truly Brightonian setting

My 3 favourite bars/pubs are:-

1. The Mesmerist – Inspired by 1920s/30s burlesque, and known for being a ‘jazz pub’, it’s undoubtedly one of the best pubs in Brighton. It has more of a bar/club feel at weekends, but also hosts dance lessons, themed nights and serves food all week. A definite ‘must-go’ if in Brighton.

2. The Font – Set in an old church, Font is the ideal location for ‘pre-drinks’ and to begin your night out. It’s located right in the centre of Brighton, among all its best restaurants, bars and clubs. The drinks are cheap, the music is good, and I hear they do a giant burger…

3. Twisted Lemon – Best budget night out in Brighton, serving a good selection of reasonably priced cocktails in a cosy, quirky setting

Top 3 Hotels are:-

1. The Grand – It is the token hotel in Brighton, located right on the seafront, and an idyllic luxury stay. With sea views, and access to lovely restaurant and spa, all with the rest of the city at your fingertips, it’s the perfect high-end retreat
2. My Brighton – Part of the ‘MyHotels’ chain, MyBrighton embodies the vibrancy of Brighton, offering individually designed rooms perfect for a girls weekend away or a couples retreat. It’s also located just of the North Laines, next to the Jubilee Library, and a short walk from the station
3. Hotel Pelirocco – Brighton’s one and only rock ‘n roll hotel, need I say any more!

Why do you love your hometown?

•It’s a fun-loving city: there’s a really lively vibe all year round – people are happy to be there, tourists and residents

•It’s a good-sized city: less than an hour from London, and small enough to be able to explore it all fully without a car

•It’s right next to beautiful countryside: with the sea on one side and the South Downs on the other, it’s easy to escape the bustle in favour of long walks and pub lunches

•It’s got an amazing arts scene: Brighton is well-known for being rich in music, arts, theatre, cinema – make sure you book in something at the Theatre Royal, or to see a film at the UK’s oldest cinema, The Duke of York’s

Anyone! Brighton is particularly popular with families during the school holidays, and hen/stag parties at weekends (especially in the summer months)…but that doesn’t put off retired daytrippers, the Brighton Pride crowd or businesspeople wanting to escape the capital for the weekend.

Best time of year to visit (weather):

Brighton is best in the sun

Language spoken:

English

Currency:

GBP

Thank you again to Laura from The Slant for being this month’s Hometown Tour Guide. Why not connect with her on Twitter?

Advertisements

Follow:

Vicky & Chris

Thanks for joining us (Vicky & Chris, a married couple from Yorkshire, England) as we Eat, Sleep, Love and Travel our way around the world! Between us, we have been to 75 countries (long may the list grow!)

We have been travelling together since January 2007 when we took our first trip only two weeks from our first meeting to Florence, Italy.